Winchester man says current paternity pay's "unworkable"
It comes as Parliament debate a petition to raise maternity and paternity pay today
Last updated 27th Oct 2025
A Winchester father says current paternity pay is "unworkable" and a raise of allowance would make taking leave "a lot less stressful".
It comes as a petition to raise maternity and paternity pay to the national living wage is being debated in Parliament today.
George Johnson's a father to two young children.
He said: "The current rate is less than half the minimum wage and they're talking about bringing it up to national living wage.
"If that means people can take the leave and afford to take the leave, then that's great.
"The big problem at the moment is that people go okay, I'm entitled to two weeks statutory leave, but I can't afford it because it's such a low rate of pay.
"Everyone should have access to that time off to bond with their new baby.
"If they can agree that the current is completely unworkable and is not achieving the aim of giving people enough of a financial security, then brilliant."
Mr Johnson took two weeks paternity leave and two weeks annual leave.
He said: "The morning I went back to work after those four weeks, I just spent an hour in the car park in tears on my own.
"I just wasn't ready.
"I should have been at home with my wife, with my eldest daughter, and with my new baby, helping everyone to adjust.
"I shouldn't have been at work, but unfortunately didn't have any more annual leave and I can't afford to take unpaid leave because I've got bills to pay.
"It was horrible.
"If I'd had more time off or been able to afford more time off, that would have been a lot better for my own mental health and for my wife's mental health for her being at home with a new baby and our older one."
The government says pay entitlements are intended to provide financial security for care not to replace earnings.